Alien: Earth premieres its first two episodes on August 12, available on Hulu at 8 PM ET in the U.S., and internationally on FX and Disney+ at 8 PM PT / ET. Following the debut, new episodes from the eight-episode season will release every Tuesday.
Set in the year 2120—placing it well after the events of Prometheus and just two years before the original Alien and the doomed voyage of the Nostromo—Alien: Earth is helmed by Noah Hawley and centers on the crash-landing of the deep space research vessel USCSS Maginot on Earth. The story follows a young woman named Wendy (played by Sydney Chandler) and a group of tactical soldiers who make a fateful discovery that thrusts them into direct confrontation with the planet’s most terrifying threat.
For context, the recent interquel Alien: Romulus is set between Alien and Aliens, helping bridge the timeline. In contrast, Alien: Earth explores a future where Earth is no longer governed by nations but by five powerful corporations: Weyland-Yutani (the notorious antagonist corporation of the franchise), Prodigy, Lynch, Dynamic, and Threshold. In this Corporate Era, cyborgs and synthetics coexist with humans. However, the balance shifts when the visionary CEO of Prodigy Corporation pioneers a breakthrough: hybrids—humanoid robots infused with human consciousness. Wendy is the first successful hybrid prototype, representing a major leap in the franchise’s enduring theme of the pursuit of immortality.
This key plot point takes a dark turn when Weyland-Yutani’s spaceship collides with Prodigy City, triggering a chain of events that leads Wendy and the other hybrids to encounter mysterious life forms described as “more terrifying than anyone could have ever imagined.”This detail hints at the possibility of multiple new threats in the series—potentially more than just the classic Xenomorph. Reports suggest there may be five distinct creature types introduced, expanding the horror beyond the familiar.
Here’s the official synopsis:
In the year 2120, Earth is ruled by five dominant corporations: Prodigy, Weyland-Yutani, Lynch, Dynamic, and Threshold. In this Corporate Era, cyborgs (humans enhanced with artificial components) and synthetics (AI-driven humanoid robots) live alongside ordinary humans. The game changes when the brilliant founder and CEO of Prodigy Corporation unveils a revolutionary advancement: hybrids—robotic bodies powered by human consciousness. The first hybrid prototype, “Wendy,” ushers in a new era in the quest for immortality. But when Weyland-Yutani’s spacecraft crashes into Prodigy City, Wendy and the other hybrids come face to face with life forms more horrifying than anything known to humankind.
Alien: Earth Cast:
- Sydney Chandler as Wendy
- Timothy Olyphant as Kirsh
- Alex Lawther as Hermit
- Samuel Blenkin as Boy Kavalier
- Babou Ceesay as Morrow
- Adrian Edmondson as Atom Eins
- David Rysdahl as Arthur Sylvia
- Essie Davis as Dame Sylvia
- Lily Newmark as Nibs
- Erana James as Curly
- Adarsh Gourav as Slightly
- Jonathan Ajayi as Smee
- Kit Young as Tootles
- Diêm Camille as Siberian
- Moe Bar-El as Rashidi
- Sandra Yi Sencindiver as Yutani
AI Characters (Synthetics) in the Alien Franchise
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Back in January of last year, showrunner Noah Hawley clarified that Alien: Earth would not follow the mythology established in Prometheus. He expressed a preference for the “retro-futurism” of the original Alien films over the bioweapon origin story explored in the prequels. Hawley confirmed he consulted with Ridley Scott on various aspects of the franchise, including its connection to the prequels, but ultimately chose to chart a new course that aligns more closely with the tone and lore of the classic entries.
The Alien universe is experiencing a resurgence. Alongside Alien: Earth, Alien: Romulus 2 is already in development, and rumors point to a new crossover with the Predator series—Predator: Badlands—further expanding the sci-fi horror landscape.
